The National Police have arrested the perpetrator of the alleged attack on two FEMEN activists during dictator Francisco Franco’s mass on November 20, the government delegation in Madrid said. They both filed a complaint after being sexually assaulted during a peaceful protest outside the Parish of the Twelve Apostles in Madrid. The women, as is customary in their protests, were naked from the waist up.
The attack occurred in front of journalists gathered at the door of the church to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Franco’s death. The feminists had the slogans “Legal fascism, national disgrace” and “Fascism has no honor, no glory” written on a banner and on their bodies, which they also chanted. The alleged perpetrator of the events is a vendor at a small stall. Promotion To the greater glory of Franco and the founder of the Falange, Primo de Rivera. He chased the activists and touched their chests.
Feminist activists explained that through this event, which lasted only a few minutes, they intended to condemn “the normalization of acts of glorification of Franco” in public spaces. According to their story, they were pushed and insulted, and they told the attacker, who demonstrated in front of the television cameras: “Sir, don’t touch, don’t touch.”
Femen issued a statement explaining that it would continue the protests: “They do not intimidate us. Our fight is for human rights, feminism and democratic memory. As long as the symbols and figures of the dictatorship continue to be honored, we will continue to raise our voices. We have shown that for another year.”
In a memorandum issued on Saturday, the Spanish government delegation in Madrid reiterated its “firm commitment against sexual violence, defending women’s rights and ensuring the free exercise of the right to demonstrate and assemble, without coercion or assault.”
On November 21, one day after the attack, Equality Minister Ana Redondo spoke: “How much impunity do you feel when you attack two women in front of the cameras?” “There are people who, unfortunately, still long for Francoism and a society in which women are subjugated and where they can be attacked,” she explained. He also requested that “the full weight of the law fall” on the aggressor. The National Police subsequently confirmed that the feminist activists had not filed any further complaints against the attacker.
Phone 016 helps victims of sexual violence, their families and those around them 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in 53 different languages. The number is not registered on the phone bill, but the call must be deleted from the device. You can also contact via email 016-online@igualdad.gob.es And via WhatsApp on 016 000 600. Minors can call the ANAR Foundation phone number 900 20 20 10. If it is an emergency, you can call 112 or the phone numbers of the National Police (091) and the Civil Guard (062). If you cannot connect, you can use the ALERTCOPS application, through which an alert signal is sent to the police with geolocation.